Syrian government announces conditions for maintaining Russian military bases

Syrian Defense Minister Murhef Abu Qasra said the country's new government is ready to keep Russian military bases if they serve Syria's interests. He noted that Russia's attitude towards the new government has improved significantly since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. "There are no permanent enemies in politics," the minister said.

The Russian government is negotiating with the new Syrian leadership to retain the Tartus naval base and the Khmeimim air base near Latakia. The agreement would allow Russia to use these bases until 2066.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was too early to discuss the issue of maintaining Russia's military bases in Syria, stressing that the issue should be discussed with the new government.

Syria's new leader, Ahmed al-Shar'i, has said he intends to continue close strategic ties with Russia. He said all of Syria's weapons come from Russia and many power plants are run by Russian specialists. "We don't want Russia to leave Syria too quickly," al-Shar'i said.

At the same time, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsakhkna announced that Tallinn would not fund aid programs for Damascus if the new Syrian government retained Russian military bases.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, assessing the situation in Syria, stressed that Moscow had achieved its goals there and had prevented the creation of a terrorist enclave. According to him, Russia is currently in contact with all the groups that have seized power in Syria, and most of them want Russia to stay there.

Russia is currently partially withdrawing its troops from the front lines in northern Syria and from posts in the Alawite Mountains, but is maintaining them at the Khmeimim air base and the Tartus naval base.